Pardubice Airport is the first to receive an EASA certificate in The Czech Republic

12.12.2016

The International Airport Pardubice is as safe as such airports in Paris, Munich or even in Rome. This is documented by a certificate that airport representatives received from the Civil Aviation Authority in Prague on Tuesday. It confirms that the safety of air traffic at the International Airport Pardubice is in accordance with the requirements of the European Agency for Aviation Safety (EASA), i.e. with European legislation. The Pardubice Airport was awarded EASA certification as the first of five Czech international airports arisen under the European agency.

"Presentation of the certificate completed more than a year-long preparatory work, including the settlement of all findings as required by EASA regulatory framework. I appreciate the high level of preparedness and professionalism of the staff at the Pardubice Airport, including the cooperation throughout the proceedings," Vítězslav Hezký, a director of the CAA Operating Section, summed up the work of all airport staff.

"Obtaining the certificate reassured me again that the Pardubice Airport goes right way under the leadership of Mrs. Šmejkalová. The fact, our airport received this important certification as the first airport in the Czech Republic, gives a clear signal to all those who are in the aviation industry that the Pardubice Airport actually belongs to the first class," said Martin Charvát, the Mayor of the City of Pardubice. The city owns 66 % of shares of the company EAST BOHEMIAN AIRPORT a.s., which operates the civilian airport. "I'm still an optimist and I believe that after the completion of a new terminal the Pardubice Airport will be among the most important airports in Europe," added Mr. Charvát.

Certificate of the operational capability as required by EASA is compulsory; all public airports located in the territory of the European Union will need to have it by the end of next year. This is applicable for all airports which are instrumental to the commercial air transport, use instrument approach procedure and which have a paved surface of a runway with a length at least 800 m, and last but not least, handle more than 10,000 passengers per year.

"I am very glad that our airport complies with this difficult task in time and without any delay. This certificate clearly confirms that our airport is more than ready to operate international air transport at a high security level. This way I would like to thank Mr. Vít Málek for an outstanding work in favour of our airport," said Hana Šmejkalová, a director of EBA, a.s.

"We have been preparing for the certification about a year. We were lucky that we did not have to solve any deficiencies in constructions. But it was not only about the creation of new airport documentation. EU legislation differs from the national one in form as well as in content, so we had to do some adjustments," said Vít Málek, Safety and Security Manager, who performed the certification procedure. For example, some markings had to be completed and some commands and information signs corrected. It was necessary to process and evaluate the obstacle limitation surfaces of the airport etc. "We also had to deal with the specifics of the airport, identify its differences and demonstrate the safety. For example, the fact that our runway is 75 m wide, while the relevant EASA regulation permits the maximum width of 60 m. We had to complete the documentation that describes this particular feature and also incorporates safety study proving the required level of runway’s security," said Vít Málek.

Conditions as required by EASA certification process are the same for all European public airports; Czech airports apply for it at the Czech Aviation Authority. The certificate confirms that the certified airport is safe and its infrastructure and activities are in agreement with the European legislation.